A lot of software decisions happen before the user changes a single setting.
That is why defaults matter.
In a trading platform, users may interact with order settings, chart layouts, notifications, security controls, and risk-related options before they fully understand what every setting does.
I was thinking about this while looking at BYDFi.
The interesting question is not only how many settings a platform offers.
It is also:
What should the platform make easy by default?
A good default can reduce unnecessary decisions.
For example, important account information should be easy to find. Security settings should not be buried. Core trading actions should feel obvious before users begin customizing everything.
This does not mean every user needs the same setup.
It means the starting point should make sense.
I think this is one of the quieter parts of product design that can strongly affect the overall experience.
Power users will eventually customize a platform.
New users first experience its defaults.
That makes the default experience part of the product itself.